Rams Ready to Deal for Maddox : Football: Salary cap forcing Broncos to trade or release backup to John Elway.
The Rams talked extensively with the Denver Broncos on Friday and appear on the verge of completing a trade today for former UCLA quarterback Tommy Maddox.
“The Broncos approached us,” said Jay Zygmunt, Ram senior vice president, “It’s definitely something worth considering.”
Team officials met last night at Rams Park and agreed to make a formal bid for Maddox, a No. 1 pick two years ago, who turns 23 in six days.
A club official said there was no deal as of Friday night, but it could be completed as early as noon today.
The Broncos asked the Rams for a third-round draft pick next year, the Rams countered with an offer of a fifth and the teams then discussed the Rams’ fourth-round pick, which was obtained in a trade with Dallas during this year’s NFL draft.
The Rams like Maddox (6-4, 195) because of his age, athletic ability and the anticipated value of quarterbacks next season with expansion franchises in Charlotte and Jacksonville filling their rosters.
“Make no mistake, Tommy Maddox would love to play for the Rams,” said Leigh Steinberg, Maddox’s agent. “The Giants, Cardinals, Bengals and 49ers have also expressed interest in him.
“Who wouldn’t want Tommy Maddox? If he had stayed in school he would have been one of the top five players in this year’s draft.”
The Broncos decided to unload Maddox when he refused to take a reported $650,000 pay cut to $200,000.
Maddox guided UCLA to a 9-3 record and a victory in the John Hancock Bowl as a sophomore and then made himself eligible for the NFL draft.
If the Rams consummate the deal, he is expected to assume Jamie Martin’s role as the team’s No. 3 quarterback. The Rams might also have to re-evaluate their final cuts, and in some cases, keep a younger and cheaper player instead of a veteran to maintain operating room under the salary cap.
The Broncos announced recently, that because of Maddox’s $850,000 salary and salary-cap considerations, they would release him before Sunday’s final cut to 53 if unable to deal him.
“If a trade falls through, we’d have to let Tommy go in the final cut,” Bronco Coach Wade Phillips said. “One way or the other, Tommy will either be traded or that will happen.”
The Bengals, based on last season’s results, would have the first opportunity to claim Maddox if the Broncos place him on waivers. The Rams stand fifth on the list to claim Maddox, which forces them to trade if they are interested in acquiring him.
“If it was for a No. 1 draft pick, then that would be something else,” Zygmunt said.
Maddox got limited playing time in four of Denver’s five exhibition games this season, completing 29 of 42 passes for 386 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He didn’t play Thursday night in the Broncos’ 30-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
His best game was against Atlanta Aug. 6, when he replaced John Elway late in the first quarter and completed 18 of 28 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns.